THE LADY WITH THE DOG

Presentation of the libretto

The libretto, designed by Iuliana Kampert after AP Chekhov, was written in 2012 and followed a classical structure in order to achieve directorial and scenographic coherence. The text sought the intrinsic musicality of the words and the rhythm appropriate to the musical phrasing. The dramatic thread was constituted by a reassembly of the moments of the short story and supplemented by the introduction of some characters from other Chekhov stories that enter into a relationship with the characters of the reference short story to strengthen the presence of the Chekhovian voice (Nikolai from wife; Vasiliev from Nervous breakdown and Paul from About love).

In 2021, at the suggestion of director Alexander Hausvater, the script underwent some changes and additions. His directing and set design cues, captions, and some new scenes have been added.

Synopsis

The opera begins with a Prolog: Vespers – a cappella choir with soloist (baritone in the role of Chekhov) in Old Slavonic, based on the text of Psalm 103.

The action of the first tableau of Act I (scenes 1-11) takes place on Cliff in Yalta, in a bright, lively atmosphere. Soon Gurov appears and sits down at the table with four ladies, his acquaintances. His attention is drawn to Anna - a beautiful woman with a puppy - a new presence in the resort's mundane landscape. He meets her, thus learning that Anna, although married, is in Yalta unaccompanied. After the crowd of people greets the ship at the pier, Anna finds that her husband has not arrived this time either. The idea of ​​an affair with the mysterious woman is born in Gurov's mind and the two leave the stage together in the twilight, burning with passion.

The second act (scenes 12-17 of Act I) takes place in a hotel room where Anna is overcome with remorse after the beginning of the love affair with Gurov. He remains cold to Anna's reproaches of conscience and does not seem to understand what has triggered her inner conflict. Learning that her husband is recalling her to Petersburg with a letter, Anna hurries to leave Yalta, breaking up with Gurov.

In Act II, back home, Gurov feels the suffocation of his life in Moscow in the presence of his domineering wife and his friends incapable of real communication. Anna's image still haunts him and he feels an unbridled desire to see her again.

Act III begins with Gurov's attempt to catch a glimpse of Anna beyond the fence of the house where she lived with her husband. We then see him in the foyer of a theater in Petersburg where he hopes to meet Anna. She arrives with Diederitz, her husband, and is shocked to see Gurov. The show begins and the audience enters the hall. Shortly, Anna comes out followed by Gurov. The two confess their love, but realize the obstacles standing in front of its fulfillment. Act III ends with Anna's promise to come to Moscow to see him.

Act IV depicts the turmoil of the two who, although they continue their love story in secret, find themselves in the same impossible situation of finding a way to live happily together.

Livia Teodorescu-Ciocănea